BUSH FIRES IN THE NORTH.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16165, 20 March 1918, Page 7

BUSH FIRES IN THE NORTH.

01S AST Ell IN THE MAIN THI NK DISTRICT. RAETIHI TOWNSHIP DEVASTATED. SJIEAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, J (mr.ss association teller a::.) TAIHAPE. March 19. j Cyclonic v.ind-s'.orms have been J raging since yesterday throughout the j Main Trunk district. Smouldering fires j were fanned into violent action. > Ilaotihi and Ohakune, suffered severely. WELLINGTON, March 19 (10 p.m.). Tho .Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following message from the postmaster at ] Ohakune Junction, transmitted through j 'Taihape:— 1 "Latest, news says that part of the I town and a hundred houses have been j burned in ihc llaotihi district. j "Seventeen houses and seven saw- j mills at Horopito, - three sawmills end j .some houses at llangataoa, and a few j houses and two or three sawmills in j the Ohakune district have also been j destroyed. "All the post offices are safe, and so far no assistance or mateiial is needed. '•Rain'commenced to fall this' afternoon, and the fires are now well under control.'' THE RAETIIh REFUGEES. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. PEOPLE BLINDED AND SCORCHED. NARROW ESCAPE OF AUCKLAND EXPREcS. (press association telegram.) PALMERSTON X., Mf.rch ID. A "Manawatu Daily Times" reporter, who motored from Palmerston North to Taihape, reports that, the country between Mangawoka and Taihape is a mass of flame, but the settlers have gathered in. most of their stock, and the damago is not likely to be great; indeoJ, the country will benefit to a large extent.

The pressman was present when tho rofugees from Raetihi arrived at Taihapo. Most of them wero suffering severely from injuries to their eyes, and many wcro quite blind. They toll a moving story of their experiences. The fire swooped down on' the town with extraordinary suddenness, propelled by a gale so tierce that motorcars wero blown off the road, and burning .branches of trees were flung in all directions for unbelievable distances, spreading the fire. Tho people, although terror-stricken, put up a good'fight, but house after house! was destroyed. Tho buildings destroyed / include tho Roman Catholic and English churches and residences. Tho polico station and some few isolated houses only were loft standing, and are still in danger. Many women hid their children in culverts. Some lay on the ground for ! hours in blankets, breathing through wet handkerchiefs, and several stood kneo-deerf in creoks to escape tho flames. Several people wero badly scorched, and the majority hare; lost their all and are in a pitiable condition, and urgently need relief. The Auckland express had a narrow escape. A goods train passed over a culvert going North just before the express was duo, and it was suddenly discovered that tho woodwork of the superstructure was in flames. One of the trucks caught fire before the train was placed out of the danger zone. The . express was stopped and kept at Horopito flag station all night, the passengers. including Sir James Allen, and mftny prominent military men, making themselves as comfortable as possible, though they were greatly incommoded ■ by the heat. The news regarding Ohakune is inconclusive. Powell's process works and Collery and Sons mills have been destroyed, and at least eighteen houses. Other residences are in jeopardy. An enormous fire raged at ltnngitaua. Many small settlers over tho whole area have lost everything, and much stock has been destroyed. Telegraphic and telephonic communi:ation is still cut off, precluding further details being received. Heavy rain fell at Taihape to-night. ASSISTANCE FOR SUFFERERS. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) "WELLINGTON, March 19. A meeting of business men addressed by Sir Joseph Ward, regarding the war loan, passed the following resolution : "That the citizens of Wellington, in public meeting assembled, desire to convey to the inhabitants of Raetihi their heartfelt sympathy, and to assure them that if financial assistance is required, it will be given." Sir Joseph Ward said later that_ ho approved of the resolution, and believed that the Government would do its duty by the people if they should need financial assistance.

EARLIER ADVICES. (rr.ESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. March 19. The postmaster at Raetihi telegraphed as lollows at 2.50 p.m.: — "Raetihi township has been devastated by bush fires. Many settlers have been burned out. Twentv-five houses in the township, including tho County office, the Town Board office, the dairy factor}*, and the Police Station have been destroyed. • "At 'J a.m. the centre of the town and the post office were safe "All post and telegraphic communication is cut off. A heavy hurricane is 6till blowing, and the remaining portion ot the town is still in grave danger." INTERRUPTION OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC. DAMAGE TO VIADUCT. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, March 19. . The postmaster at Ohakune telegraphed at 1 p.m. that relief trains

wore bringing people to dliakune. The |atest information thi-: afternoon (but it is Hot quite definite) is that the express from Auckland will arrive at Wellington about 9 o'clock to-night. The passengers who left Wellington by the midday express to-day were acquainted the fact that 70 feet of sleepers of the viaduct near Horopito had be'-'ii burned, and that it would be necessary for them to traverse the viaduct on foot. It is not anticipated that any danger will attend the process. Probably veiy little delay will be occasioned in changing trains. Telegraphic communication is inter- [ runted in nil directions, and it is j doubtful if messages can !;c got j through-. ASSOCIATION TELEURAM.) TAUMARI'NUI, March 19. The burnt sleepers o:i the Horopito viuciu-t jiie being leplaced, and thioug.i railway services should be established to-night-. At Horopito the miil and twenty houses li.iv>> br.'n destroyed. Rangitana is reported to have been almost wiped out and several dves 1 o;• t, but nothing definite can be ascertained. TOWNS ENVELOPKD IN SMOKE. (r.HESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAMS.) WELLINGTON. March 19Large bush tires are raging in the northern country districts. ' and the city Is enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke, so dense that the atmosphere is distinctly tainted and the light so olrscured that most of the ooicc>; are compelled to mc artili.-iai illumination. M'ASTERTON, -March 19. Mastortcn was enveloped in almost total flavkne.-.s this morning till nearlv nine o'clock. The sky was bright red for tome three hours, clouds of smoke passed overhead, and allies tell• /Woik was suspended for some time owing to the darkness. A heavy gale was raging, but conditions were -vetuiniu.; to normal at 10.30, though the town was still enveloped in dense smoke. ~ FEILDTNG, March Id.. is completely envelope,] m 'moke. "There is uncanny darkness, lights bfing t:sed indoors and motorerrs using headlights.. The trouble is evidently due to bush fires, though not in th : s district. A tremendous gale is blowing. . in PALMERSTON N., March 19. The eli'ects of the sinoke of bush (ires have had unusual results here. ino town is in semi-darkness, all business i prenrsfs being lighted wi'h g's, candles, and lamps, reminiscent of tne conaitions thirtv-five years ago, when ousli firos extended for miles about Palmerston, and at this time of the year. Some excitement prevails, and there 15 a crowd around the telegraph arid newspaper officcs, Anxious for the latest particuI lars.

WATER SUPPLY WORKS DAMAGED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEURAM.) WANGANUI, March 19. A liig bush and grass liro is raging inland ?t Kai-iwi, at the Wanganui wntor supply works, fanned by one of the heaviest gales experienced hero, and spreading towards tho Kai-iwi telephone ullice. "Some settlers had a strenuous time saving their properties. Only nif-agre details are available. The Presbyterian Church at Westmere was lifted bodily eff the blocks by the fialo. The whole district is shrouded in a dense pall of smoke, extending far oat to sea. Later. While Waimarino is Wing eaten by fire, a similar visitation is being experienced in tho Okelm district, where is situated the Wanganui source of water supply. A large amount of timber in tho catchment area has been destroyed ; also the caretaker's hut and tho road-menders' whares. Several people had a narrow escape, having to t:kc refuge for three hours in a cutting. It was feared that tho town's water supply had been cut off, tho main having been reported broken. Late tonight it was ascertained that 'tho pipe track was all right, the stoppago being due to tho intake valve having been displaced by the gale. Latest news from the Waimarino is that heavy rain is falling. THE GALE IN RANGITIKEI DISTRICT.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) MARTON, March 19. The town is enveloped in smoke, and thor© is a dull rod glare_ in the sky. Business places are working by gaslight. The Rangitikei "Advocate's" Mangaweka correspondent telegraphs: —'Tremendous gales have raged all over tho district during the last twenty hours, as the result of which bush fires are spreading extensively. Tho Karewarewa, Upper Kawhatau and Utiku districts aro ablaze. "The polico report that tho Egmont Box Company's works at Ohutu are burning. The railway line is seriously menaced. There has tffeen enormous damage to property." Tho outside grandstand on the _ Marton rac:course was partially demolished, and the roof and back wail are swaying in the air. Cattle are reported to have been killed in the Turakina district, and treo3 have been uprooted and sheds demolished. Nganruhoa is reported to be in eruption.